TWI-103 Happyland (and other stories)

Excerpt

“Yeah, I like blond college boys, especially freshmen.”

“To face facts, Sean, don’t you think I’m a little exotic for you?”

“A little, perhaps, yes, but under these circumstances I could adjust to it.”

“But do you really want to? Isn’t there someone else in this room whom you find far more attractive? For instance—” He looks at David, who contemptuously looks back. “Pardon, I don’t think we’ve heard your name yet. We know everyone’s but yours.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll keep it to myself,” David says coldly.

“But I do. If you’re not going to tell us, I’ll have to find it out for myself, I guess. George? No, George is much too prosaic. Arthur? It couldn’t be Arthur. You’re much too handsome for an Arthur. You do remind me of a chaste, rather classical figure—Julius? No, no; it’s much too old a name. Somehow I think of harmony and music. David? Yes. I think it’s David. Young David with his harp. That’s it. It’s David, isn’t it?”

From the look of astounded surprise on his face, the others know that Julio has hit the mark again.

“Yes, the Biblical David, appearing before us as a college boy. It’s David, isn’t it?”

The boy shrugs a “so what,” and Julio smiles with self-satisfaction, then turns back to Sean. “Tell me, Sean, isn’t he your type? Isn’t David exactly the kind of boy you like?”

“What is this, anyway?” asks David.

“What are you, a mind reader?” barks Sean. “How in the hell do you know that?”

“Elementary, my dear Sean, elementary. Ever since the five of us have been together, I’ve been observing you. I’ve watched your eyes fall on David more than on anyone else. I don’t blame you, Sean; he’s a remarkably handsome boy. I could be attracted to him myself. Though his personality may be a bit cold, I’m sure that his extraordinary physical beauty more than makes up for it.”